Fuel reformer and power source with fuel reformer

Abstract

A fuel reformer of a power source includes: a gas-liquid separator which separates raw fuel into gas-phase fuel and liquid-phase fuel; and a molecular weight-increasing catalytic device which is provided downstream of the gas-liquid separator and includes a molecular weight-increasing catalyst which increases molecular weight of the gas-phase fuel. The fuel reformer is capable of improving combustion characteristics.

1 . A fuel reformer of a power source which generates heat during operation, the fuel reformer comprising:
 a gas-liquid separator which separates raw fuel into gas-phase fuel and liquid-phase fuel; and   a molecular weight-increasing catalytic device which is provided downstream of the gas-liquid separator and includes a molecular weight-increasing catalyst which increases molecular weight of the gas-phase fuel.   
   
   
       2 . The fuel reformer according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the molecular weight-increasing catalyst adsorbs and desorbs the gas-phase fuel with the molecular weight increased.   
   
   
       3 . The fuel reformer according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the molecular weight-increasing catalyst comprises platinum and zinc.   
   
   
       4 . The fuel reformer according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the molecular weight-increasing catalyst comprises: platinum;   zinc; and a base material composed of at least one selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, ceria, zirconia, titania, magnesia, and zeolite, and   platinum and zinc are supported on the base material.   
   
   
       5 . The fuel reformer according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the molecular weight-increasing catalyst comprises: platinum;   and a base material composed of at least a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, ceria, zirconia, titania, magnesia, and zeolite, a surface of the metal oxide being coated with zinc, and   platinum is supported on the base material.   
   
   
       6 . The fuel reformer according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the molecular weight-increasing catalyst comprises: platinum; and a base material composed of a composite oxide of zinc and at least a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, ceria, zirconia, titania, magnesia, and zeolite, and   platinum is supported on the base material.   
   
   
       7 . The fuel reformer according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the gas-liquid separator serves as a fuel tank.   
   
   
       8 . A power source with a fuel reformer, comprising:
 a power source which generates heat during operation; and   a fuel reformer according to  claim 1 .